1
Earn in strong client markets
Compare markets by client budget potential, currency strength and the ease of getting paid through local account details.
The Global Earn & Live Index
The best places to earn and live
Discover the top client markets to earn as a freelancer and the best countries to live the lifestyle you want.
EarnTarget strong client markets
LiveCompare freelancer destinations
PlanSet a borderless income goal
Work global, pay local
Two places shape one freelance life
The best place to win work does not have to be the best place to live. A borderless strategy separates the two.
2
Live where your income stretches
Balance monthly costs with visa access, connectivity and the practical infrastructure needed for remote work.
3
Set a realistic billing target
Turn your preferred city and lifestyle into a monthly invoice goal, savings target and estimated retirement timeline.
Key findings
The index at a glance
United States
US is the top client market to target as it logs the highest overall earn score at 94, with typical freelancer hourly rates of $85 to $150.
Thailand
Chiang Mai leads the overall best places to live, with an estimated monthly cost of $1,250.
Spain
Valencia tops the premium lifestyle ranking with a Live score of 92 and a $2,300 monthly estimate.
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur leads the comfortable lifestyle ranking, with a Live score of 92 and a $1,750 monthly estimate.
The index
Where to earn.
Where to live.
Switch between top client markets and best countries to live and use the filters to compare client markets, lifestyle costs and remote-work conditions.
| Rank | Client market | Billing currency | Typical hourly range | Potential monthly client value | Payment ease | Earn score |
|---|
| Rank | Destination | Monthly cost | Internet speed | Remote setup score | Live score |
|---|
Borderless salary calculator
What should you bill each month?
Choose a city and lifestyle, then enter your age, existing retirement savings and contribution rate. The calculator assumes you earn the monthly invoice target and shows your progress towards retiring at age 65.
Use the result as a planning estimate. Tax, inflation, investment returns and personal circumstances vary.
Practical saving tips
How to wisely save for retirement
A retirement plan should support the life you want, not make today feel like a waiting room.
Choose a rate you can sustain
Start with a contribution you can repeat every month. Increase it gradually when your client income rises.
Save when the invoice lands
Move your retirement contribution as soon as a client pays, before the money becomes part of everyday spending.
Protect what matters most
Keep the experiences you value, then look for flexible costs that can change without undermining your preferred lifestyle.
Review your plan each year
Recheck living costs, billing targets, and savings as your city, lifestyle, or freelance income changes.
Your borderless plan
Turn your next invoice into a clearer target.
Compare destinations, choose a lifestyle, and see what your monthly plan could look like.
Methodology
How the studies were conducted
Each study brings together practical indicators that matter to freelancers earning internationally and choosing where to live.
Top client markets
Where should your invoices come from? This study weighs earning power against the practical reality of being paid across borders.
- Typical hourly rangeWhat established freelancers could charge
- Potential monthly client valueWhat one active client could be worth
- Payment easeHow smoothly money can cross borders
Best countries to live
Where can freelance income take you further? Every destination is tested across lean, comfortable, and premium spending scenarios, then compared using three numerical measures.
- Monthly costEstimated spend in US dollars per month
- Internet speedModelled fixed-broadband speed in Mbps
- Remote setup scoreA 0 to 100 rating for work-from-anywhere readiness
Data sources: World Bank, IMF, OECD, Speedtest Global Index, official visa pages, and a verified cost-of-living source. Figures are modelled estimates for comparison, not financial advice.